Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-09-21
through the same ordeal with similar re.

CnZduttu, III iduSHiHS, SirllSn ZONES. i
am too young to think of marrying, Mr..
GLADDEN.. Besides, expect always to make
my home with Sarah, who viii have aunt
Sophia's house, and all that, you know.
one OF these days She is the fortunate
one here"
"Good heavens p exclaimed GLADDEN..
" You don't mean that you are not to-"
elizabeth p called the shrill voice of
her aunt, peering through the bushes.
The girl went off actually laughing out
right at Gladden's discontinue.
Two male hypocrites were ruthlessly I'M
deceived, and two fair deceivers were in
ecstasies over the working OF their ruse,
but it yet renamed to be seen whether
these two lovers could readily transfer
their attentions to the especial objects that
had sought this end.
" 1t is partly untangled, this skein of
dilemma" said Martha to her aunt next
day.
hIf those girls are willing now to trade
fools l shall not interpose," snapped Mrs.
Grant
But Martha saw deeper into the affair
than her aunt. She knew that neither of
the young men was sincerely in love with
the sister to whom he had at first attached
himself.
"By Joe, GLADDEN., Pm tired of the
whole business" remarked Chalmers to
that worthy young fellow few days after
the above.
"And ], too" said GLADDEN., yawning.
a think Pve made a mistake, old boy
| ! find, on Analysing my feelings, that !
| IL lo,,oI ~
Chalmers.
Gladdened pricked up his ears. "The
hypocrite p he mentally calculated.
"And, GLADDEN., what do you say to 9
change of base? Suppose We swap girls
and try it on that line. Perhaps we'd sue
coed better Pll throw you in the pros
poets of the inheritance, for | have it or
good authority now that Sarah is to be heI
aunt's heiress."
"The rascal r' thought GLADDEN.. Then
aloud: "On what authority do you say
this"
ooh, Pm in Martha's confidence now
and she told me all about it."
"Confound his impudencep thought
GLADDEN., looking straight at his friend
who, to do him justice, colored little.
chalmers, you mistake your man i
you think mercenary consideration will
weigh anything with me. But as Pve
learned the true state of my heart during
the past few weeks, L am unwilling to re
linquish my claim on Elizabeth, and, to bt
candid with you, Pve loved Sarah for some
time past"
"What lying young rascal he is and
how neatly he plays his part ?" thought
Chalmers, looking at his friend admir-
ingly.
So it was agreed between these two con,
spirators that their batteries should be re
versed, and that they should each try tc
capture the quondam sweetheart of the
other, and active preparations were made
for the new order of things.
Aunt Sophia gave each of these inno-
cent and humble young men searching
glance as he preferred his request for per
mission to carry off a niece to the altar
There was something in her look thai
Chalmers did not like and that Gladder
shrank from as she replied to them.
| | never expect to dictate in this affair
If you've found, after wabbling along like
geese all this time, that you've got what
you want at last, Pve no objection to your
marrying each other. But you'll please
remember that after you've married you
can't swap wives like jacknives.
I There were two weddings in one at Aunt
Sophia's house and not many days after
this 1t was simple affair, and there
were no guests other than the family.
:. Expectancy ran high after the ceremony
as Aunt Sophia had intimated that she had
something she had desired to say on the
| ct,h,ao+
She had provided liberal outfit for hel
nieces and some inexpensive and usefu
presents, suitable for keeping house. ant
she breathed a sigh of relief when it wa.
all over, the skirmishing ceased, the enemy
conquered, and the girls, on the whole, APP
pearing satisfied with the decree of fate.
In Mrs. Grants coy library, overlooking
the garden, and affording view of tho
convenient shrubbery where the fair de
ceivers had laid the final train which blew
up the castles of Chalmers and GLADDEN.
sat six persons whom the reader knows wei
| by this time.
Now, girls" began Aunt Sophia, "sinct
you've each got husbands, able-bodied mer
that can take care of you, hope you're
satisfied. There won't be much poetry and
nonsense about your married life, ! expect
because poor folks haven't time to dream
idle dreams. The business | want to speak
about is this: there isn't any money tc
speak about in my possession, and what
there is will stay by me till Pm gone, and
then what's left will go to your unmarried
sister, Matte, here The property-that
is the house, haven't done with yet, and
hope | shan't be for some time to come
| ,1-ha,, H., Il -
1t, and if you can arrange with her Il
make your home with her Pve no objec.
tions to that. But, laws what's the mat.
ter with you all? You look as if you
were tending funeral instead of wed.
ding"
81 hope, Mrs Grant," said Chalmers, re-
gaining his self-possession, that you don't
regard us as mercenary in having sought
your nieces in marriagep
ooh, no; by no MEANS" said the old
lady with that grim smile of hers.
Pm glad you estimate us for what we
are worth" put in the fatuous GLADDEN..
81 do, precisely" said the lady, coolly.
An hour later Mrs. Grant and Martha
were alone together, each wearing pecu-
| liar smile.
Even water finds its level at last" said
Aunt Sophia, pointedly, to her niece.
"And those two scapegraces have found
theirs, | hope" replied Martha. "But, y
she added, with flush on her comedy face,
"to think that each of these mammon-
worshipers should have proposed to me
upon a rumor that was to be your
heiress" Martha looked panied, and col
ored holly as she concluded.
4
phia. "The miserable wretches What
a narrow escape Eve had They might
have proposed to me, too Pc. Boyden.